PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THYROID DYSFUNCTION IN POST RADIOTHERAPY PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCERS

Abstract

Background: The purpose of our study is to identify the incidence of hypothyroidism following radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients in Rajasthan India and to assess the time period for the development of hypothyroidism for early treatment to reduce hypothyroid related morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A prospective study conducted in Department of Radiation Oncology, S.M.S Medical College and attached group of hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan. with 50 patients of histopathologically proven head and neck cancer receiving external beam to whole neck on telecobalt.

Results: The patients were followed up for a period of six months. 7 (14%) patients were found to have hypothyroidism which was strongly significant with the p value of 0.02.

Conclusion: We concluded that thyroid function tests should be made routine prior RT and during follow up period as early as 6 months and carried out lifelong.

Keywords: Thyroid function test, Head neck cancer, Follow-up.